Car insurance is something of a necessary evil as we are legally required to have our cars insured in order to drive them. However the difference between car insurance quotes can be in hundreds so it's worth taking the time to find the best quote.

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Before you start getting quotes you need to decide on what type of cover you want.

• 3rd party cover - This is the most basic form of car insurance that covers any damage to other cars if you are responsible for an accident. It doesn't cover your car if its stolen set on fire or if you caused the accident. Its most suited to drivers with cars that aren’t very valuable as its often cheaper to replace the car than pay the excess and additional insurance costs.
• 3rd party fire & theft - The same as above expect your car is insured if its stolen or involved in a fire.
• Fully comprehensive - This type of insurance will cover you in the event of accidental damage to your car and often provides personal accident benefits. This is the most expensive form of insurance but makes sense if your car has any real value attached to it.

The price of car insurance is dependent on your circumstances, which means you can often lower your premiums. Check out the simple checklist to see how you might help bring down your car insurance quote.

• Car size - The size of the engine has a big impact on your car insurance costs so if possible go for the smaller engine size.
• Security - The safer the car the less likely it will be stolen, so ask the insurer what safety devices will reduce the premium. Alarms, garage parking, drive way parking and immobilisers are some of the typical security features can help reduce your car insurance.
• Safe Driving - Car insurance companies often offer further discounts for drivers with further driving certificates such as advanced and pass plus qualifications.
• Who & How you use the car - If you don’t use your car to commute then make sure your insurers know about it, low annual mileage equals a low premium. And remember to remove any unnecessary drivers off the policy.

The only realistic way to get the best quote is to shop around. The companies that promise to do the searching for you aren't always the cheapest so make sure you get several quotes. That's why we have compiled a directory of the leading car insurance companies, making it easy for you to get quotes.